A Hedgehog Ran Along the Path

A hedgehog ran along a path—only its heels flickered into view. It ran and thought, “My legs are quick, my quills are sharp—just you wait, I’ll live in the forest with ease!”

It met a Snail and said:
“Come on, Snail, let’s race. Whoever catches up—gets to eat the other!”

The foolish Snail said:
“Let’s go!”

Off they went: the Snail’s speed is well known—seven steps a week. And the Hedgehog, with its little feet thump-thumping and its snout oinking-horcking, caught up with the Snail, crunched it, and ate it.

Then it ran on—only its heels kept flashing. It met a Croaking Frog and said:
“Pouch-eyed one, let’s race. Whoever gets ahead—gets to eat the other!”

They raced. The Frog jumped, jump-jump, while the Hedgehog went thump-thump-thump. It caught the Frog, seized it by the paw, and ate it.

After eating the Frog, the Hedgehog’s heels flickered again. It kept running and running until it saw an Owl sitting on a stump, shifting from foot to foot and snapping its beak.

“Nothing,” the Hedgehog thought, “my legs are quick and my quills are sharp. I ate the Snail, I ate the Frog—now I’ll get to the Owl too!”